The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-12-03

tutely recognized the usual truthfulness
OF love aud youth, There was clearly no
deceit herel Renshaw's attentive eyes
saw the smile and his brow darkened.
~ like to hear yer say that, Mr.. Rem
shaw" said Mott, land it's no more than
Rosey deserves, ez it's suthing sunat'ral
and spell like that's come over her
through Ferrers. II amt my Rosey. But
it's Gospel truth, whether she's bewitched
or not; whether it's them damn fool sto-
res she reads--and it's like ez not he's
Just the kind o. snipe to write 'em hisself,
and sorter advertise hisself don't yer see
she's allus stuck up for him. They've
had clandesent inter rvs, and when l
taxed him with 1t he much ez allowed
il was so, and reckoned he must leave, so
ez he could run her off, you know
kinder stampede her with honor
Them's his very words"
"But that is all past; he is gone, and
Miss Mott does not even know where he
isl" said Renshaw, with laugh, which,
however, concealed vague uneasiness.
Mr.. Mott rose and opened the door care
fully. When he had satisfied himself
that no one was listening he came back and
said in a whisper, That's lie. Not ez
Rosey means to lie, but it's trick he's
put upon that poor child. That man, Mr..
Renshaw, hez been hangin' round the
Pontiac ever since. I've seed him twice
with my own eyes pass the cabin windys.
More than that, I've heard strange noises
at night and seen strange faces In the
alley over yer. And only jist now ez
KEN in ketchetisight Of furrin lookin'
Chinee niger sinking round the back
door of what useter be Ferrers' loft"
"Did he look like sailor" asked Rem
shaw quickly, with return Of his former
suspicion.
mot more than do" said Mott, glanc-
ing complacently at his pea jacket. "He
had rings on his yeers like wench."
Mr.. Renshaw started. But seeing
Motifs eyes fixed on him, he said lightly,
'But what have these strange faces and
this strange man-probably only Lascar
sailor out of job-to do with Fer
reres"
"Friends O. his-feller furrin citizens
spies ON Rosey, don't you see? But they
can't play the old man, Mr.. Renshaw.
I've told Rosey she must make visit to
the old Ranch. Once I've got her ther
safe, reckon kin manage Mr. Ferrers
and any number Of Chinee niggers he kin
bring along"
Renshaw remained for few moments
lost in thought, Then rising suddenly he
grasped Mr.. Motifs hand with frank
smile but determined eyes. ~ haven't
got the hang of this, Mr.. Nott-the whole
thing gets me! l only know that I've
changed my mind. I'm not going to Sac
ramento l shall stay here, old man,
until see you safe through the business,
or my names not Dick Renshaw. There's
my hand on i'll Don't say word. May
be it is no more than ought to do-per-
haps not half enough. Only remember,
not word of this to your daughter She
must believe that leave tonight. And
the sooner you get her out of this cursed
ship the better"
Deacon Flint's girls are goin' up In
to-night's boat. I'll send Rosey with
them" said Mott, with cunning twinkle.
Renshaw nodded. Mott seized his hand
with wink of unutterable significance.
Left to himself, Renskaw tried to re-
view more calmly the circumstances in
these strange revelations that had inn
PEELED him to change his resolution SO
suddenly. That the ship was under the
Io,,ryo;llopco If I'm b NJ xvp narfiao md that
the description Of them Tailed with his
own knowledge of certain Lascar sailor,
who was one of Sleight's informants--
seemed to be more than probable. That
this seemed to point to Sleight's disloy-
atty to himself while he was acting as his
agent, or q double treachery on the part
OF Sleight's informants, was in either case
reason and an excuse for his own inter
ference. But the connection of the alb
surd Frenchman with the case, which at
first seemed characteristic imbecility of
his landlord, bewildered him the more he
thought of it. Rejecting any hypothesis
of the girls affection for the Anticipated
figure whose sanity was a question of
public criticism, he was forced to the
equally alarming theory that Ferrieres
was eognizant of the treasure, and that
his attentions to Rosey were to gain pos
session of it by marrying her. Might she
not be dazzled by picture of this wealth.
Was is not possible that she was already
in part possession of the secret and her
strange attraction to the ship, and what
he had deemed her innocent craving for
information concerning it, consequences
Why had he not thought of this before'
Perhaps she had detected his purpose
from the first, and had deliberately check
mated him. The thought did not in
crease his complacency as Mott softly re
turned.
otis all right" he began with a certain
satisfaction in this rare opportunity for
Machiavellian diplomacy, otis all fixed
now. Rosey tumbled to it at once, par
tiklerly when said you was bound to 60.
But wot makes Mr.. Renshaw go, father,
sez she; 'wot makes everybody run away
from the ship" seq she, rather peart like
and sassy for her. Mr.. Renshaw hez